Several factors associated with increasing discontent in middle management ranks have been identified. One of these is known as a boxed-in feeling or locking-in, which refers to the ongoing feeling an individual has when he has almost no opportunity to move from his present job or when the only position for which he is qualified is the job he currently holds. In the work environment individuals locked into their jobs do not appear to be radically different from their less locked-in peers. They share the same work values and express the same degree of identification with their organization, but are less committed to their work and report a poorer utilization of their skills on their jobs. They also experience more stress from the rapid rate of change in their organizations, and have lower feelings of self-worth in relation to their jobs. (Author/PJC)